Belgian wildfire approaches Germany despite rain as Greece probes deadly blaze

Soured by the hottest and driest summer on record, fueled by climate change, one of Belgium's biggest wildfires raged out of control on Monday. Although cooler weather and rain improved conditions for firefighters, the blaze in Liège province had already scorched an estimated 30 square kilometers, leaving behind blackened trees and smoldering ground.

The fire spread east into a pine forest, closing in on the German border. Belgian King Philippe cut his vacation short to visit emergency services battling the wildfire. Dozens of firefighters were aided by aircraft from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, supporting local police with drones to monitor the fire.

Despite overnight rains, the fire remained a threat to the town of Monschau in Germany. Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for Wallonia regional public services, stated that while overnight rains helped contain the blaze, they did not significantly impact the center of the fire. Tourists had already left the region, canceling reservations, and the owner of the Mont Dragon hotel near the park expressed frustration with the limited impact of the rain. Evacuation orders remained in effect for hundreds of residents.

In Greece, a fire near the main airport on the island of Salamina killed two people, injured nine, and destroyed several homes. Fire department investigators quickly extinguished the blaze within 30 minutes. New wildfires broke out elsewhere, and in France, a fire in the southwest Landes region was under control after four days of battling the flames. Authorities allowed about half of the evacuated residents to return home as temperatures began to drop.